Plans for major new retirement village go on show in Devizes

Preliminary plans for an innovative, purpose-built retirement village for Wiltshire will go on show today (December 4th), detailing an estimated £30 million development providing supported accommodation for more than 200 older people by award-winning west charity, the St Monica Trust.

The proposed 10 acre development near to Quakers Walk, Devizes will provide one and two-bedroom accommodation in a village-style community where residents will have a wide range of specialist facilities and services including a restaurant, activity centre, health spa and gym. The village will be supported by 24-hour care and support teams. More than a warden service, they offer the sort of flexible support needed by many older people looking to maintain their independence in their own home, services which can include anything from domestic chores and shopping, to help with medication and personal care.

Says Director at the St Monica Trust, Gerald Lee, “We believe this new development, the first for the St Monica Trust in Wiltshire, will directly support both national and county objectives to provide older people with accommodation solutions that help them stay in their own homes for longer.

“Wiltshire’s Accommodation Strategy for Older People recognises gaps in current service provision, particularly in the area of Extra Care. The need is likely to grow with the increasing older population across the county, particularly amongst the 85+ age group, the numbers of which are projected to rise by more than 60% between 2007 and 2021. The Trust is talking with Wiltshire County Council regarding this development and we hope we can work together to enhance services in a supportive and productive partnership.”

Working closely with Bristol City and North Somerset Councils, the Trust currently provides specialist accommodation for more than 800 older people in the region, in four, mixed tenure developments, offering lease purchase, rent and shared ownership. More than one third of the older people who use the Trust’s services, live in Trust accommodation and who are supported by Trust care teams, access these services through their local authority.

As part of the Devizes development, the Trust also proposes to build a general needs care home on the site, with en-suite rooms for elderly residents in need of higher level of nursing care. There are also plans for a specialist nursing facility to provide quality of life, levels of independence and fulfilment for people living with dementia. The Trust already operates three, specialist care facilities for people living with dementia, most recently opening a purpose-built facility for more than 70 residents in North Somerset, praised as the ‘best dementia care facility in the UK.’1/2

A new Primary Care Centre is also included alongside the proposed development.

The public and interested parties are invited to attend a public exhibition of the retirement village proposals in the Cheese Hall at the Town Hall, St Johns Street, Devizes SN10 1BN on Friday, 4th December between 3.00pm and 7.00pm.

Adds Mr Lee, “This is our first consultation process. As well as opportunities to review and discuss these preliminary plans with Trust representatives, we hope visitors will also leave written comments. The Trust is keen to take local views into account in planning how best to take these ideas forward.”
1 UK Over-50s Housing Awards 2009
2 Guardian Newspaper, 20/05/2009